up for Middlesexpublished at 10:45 British Summer Time 22 September 2023

10:45 BST 22 September 2023

Middlesex 121 & 102-1 v Warwickshire 315

A square drive from Sam Robson to a wide one from Ed Barnard finds the ropes and takes the hosts into three figures.

92 behind.

Jack Brooks, headband in place, is bowling with the new ball in a Somerset shirt for the final time, at the opposite end to Lewis Gregory, who is in the zone already.

In theory Kent have 20 wickets with which to ensure a precious draw in the 93 overs remaining today, however they have shown they are capable of alarming collapses before this season and you can be sure that prospect will be playing on the mind of Kent fans.

Alex Lees leaves partner Michael Jones stranded over half-way down the wicket after changing his mind about a single and he is run out.

The left-hander responds with back to back fours off Dillon Pennington through backward point.

for Jamie Overtonpublished at 10:40 British Summer Time 22 September 2023

10:40 BST 22 September 2023

Surrey 163-6 v Northants 357

52 balls, eight fours and potentially an innings that moves Surrey closer to the title from Jamie Overton.

He was dropped yesterday on 40 and his stand with Ben Foakes, on 35 at the other end, is now worth 84.

It looks to be a partnership that has killed off Northants' main route to victory. They will surely offer up a chase later but Surrey will be able to dictate terms.

But before then, the hosts will try to prolong this first innings. A batting point could be very handy.

Mohammad Abbas is not a player renowned for his batting ability but he steers Sam Cook past the slips to open his account with a boundary. A deliberate shot, not an edge.

The Hampshire deficit is now 115.

How will Durham approach this?

Promotion and the Division Two title are in the bag and it's hard to see a set of circumstances in which they could possibly win this game after so much rain at New Road.

For Worcestershire, every bowling point will be important as they look to secure that second promotion spot.

Joe Leach bowls the opening over, four runs from it.

Sam Robson resumes on 51 with Jack Davies on 10 as Craig Miles resumes his over which was interrupted by Mother Nature yesterday.

The hosts' aim is clear. Bat all day long. They currently trail by 98 runs. The weather is glorious on the first day of autumn.

How quickly can Essex take these last two Hampshire wickets?

Sam Cook has two balls left in the over that was interrupted by bad light and rain last evening.

Kyle Abbott is on striker, with Tom Prest 102 not out at the other end.

So.... what does Somerset's declaration mean? Well it means they have to settle for four batting bonus points while perhaps more pressingly Kent only take one bowling point.

It also means Tom Kohler-Cadmore finishes 32 runs shy of a century against the county of his birth.

Ben Compton and Tawanda Muyeye stride out in the Taunton sunshine to begin the visitors' quest for batting bonus points. Lewis Gregory will open the bowling.

Image source, Rex Features

Relegation-threatened Northamptonshire must not "over attack" on the final morning as they look to bowl out Surrey and enforce the follow on at The Oval, according to bowling coach Chris Liddle.

The Division One leaders were in deep trouble on 79-6 before Jamie Overton and Ben Foakes shared an unbroken 79-run partnership to the close of play on day three.

"We'll come back with the same mentality of wanting to take wickets - not over attack, but build pressure, get our rewards and see where that takes us," he told BBC Radio Northampton.

Asked if they would try to set Surrey a target if they fail to make them follow on, Liddle added: "We definitely want to play to win the game so that's definitely not out of the equation at all."

All eight matches have made it to the final day, largely as a result of the iffy weather this week, and our BBC local radio teams will be bringing you live coverage as usual.

Choose an audio stream at the top of the page and we will give you regular text updates to make sure you know what's happening at the other games.

Image source, Rex Features

Essex captain Tom Westley believes a victory is still possible despite Tom Prest's unbeaten hundred enabling Hampshire to avoid the possibility of following on at Chelmsford.

"We need to stay positive and upbeat. We're in a strong position and hopefully we'll bat well for a short time to give ourselves a decent amount of overs to bowl them out," he said.

"With Harmy (Simon Harmer) bowling from one end, then we can potentially create 10 chances."

Prest's 102 not out was his maiden first-class century and he said: "I struggled quite a bit this year playing in the red ball game but took a lot of confidence from the 50-over competition. To transfer it into red ball runs has been a relief."

Durham captain Scott Borthwick said his side were "back where we belong" after clinching the Division Two title on the third day at New Road.

The north-east county have spent seven seasons in the second tier after being demoted by the ECB over financial issues.

"A lot of Durham people still hold a grudge about the ECB relegating us in 2016," Borthwick told BBC Radio Newcastle. "The lads are absolutely buzzing. I felt we had the talent and the skill to do it this year."

For more reaction and comment, read our full story below.

Image source, Getty Images

Tom Kohler-Cadmore admitted he "couldn't be happier" after celebrating his England one-day call-up with an unbeaten 68 off just 31 balls for Somerset against Kent.

He hit eight sixes in a devastating display and shared a stand of 84 with Lewis Goldsworthy, who departed for 122.

"It feels great to have got the England call and hopefully if I get the chance I can show them what I can do. Whatever happens, I will enjoy the moment," he said.

Viv Richards holds the Somerset record for the fastest hundred, off just 48 balls, and Kohler-Cadmore won't have the chance to beat it as they have declared on their overnight score.

Image source, Rex Features

Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace hit out at his side's lack of fight after they were bowled out in just 36.2 overs after two days of watching the rain at Derby.

Captain Cheteshwar Pujara is suspended and Tom Haines and Jack Carson were left out for disciplinary reasons - but Farbrace refused to make excuses.

"Appalling is the simple word really. We batted poorly, lacked fight, desire. It's not a 100 all out pitch," he said.

"People have missed out on this selection so it creates an opportunity and no one has taken the opportunity which is incredibly frustrating....we got what we deserved."

Image source, Rex Features

Harry Swindells offered a liquid apology to team-mate Will Davis after his dismissal denied Leicestershire's number 11 the chance to register a maiden half-century.

The pair shared a new club record stand for the 10th wicket against Yorkshire, adding 93 before Swindells was caught behind for 73, leaving Davis on 44 not out.

“I was just gutted I got out when I did because I would have liked to help him get to 50. I think I owe him a beer for that," he said.

“As a partnership, we just set ourselves little goals every three or four overs. He was striking the ball so well and when we started to hit a few boundaries they spread the field and took the slips out of play, which made it a bit easier."

Sunny spells and scattered showers - the forecast in five words from BBC Weather.

Could be better, but we must take what we get and hope that one or two exciting finishes are still possible in our eight Championship games.